Airbus profit rises as aircraft deliveries grow

PARIS (AP) — Airbus says earnings grew 15 percent last year as airlines' demand for the European aerospace and defense giant's A320 and A330 jets helped boost deliveries and top arch-rival Boeing in the race for new orders.

Airbus made 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion) last year, up from 2.3 billion euros in 2014, the company said Wednesday.

The maker of the A380 super-jumbo says it expects to deliver more than 650 aircraft this year, up from 635 in 2015. It also forecast a growing order book in 2016, a year after it took in 1,080 orders, well over Boeing's 768.

Airbus and Boeing have prospered in recent years as suddenly flush airlines ordered hundreds of planes.